Current Events

Below is the text to my TEA Party speech given in Fort Atkinson, WI on the Fourth of July. Now, this is the text of the speech, not actually the speech itself. In other words, what I meant to say and what I actually wound up saying are two different things. Here is what I originally intended to say:

I would first like to thank Rebbeca Wallace for putting this all together. She is the true definition of what a patriot is – she is not a political operative, not a politician and not a professional talking head, but a citizen who loves her country and raises her voice when that country is headed in the wrong direction. I wish will all had her courage to step out and let our voices be heard. Are you willing to let your voice be heard this morning! I hope that is why you are here. And I want to thank you all for coming, for taking time out of your holiday plans to really celebrate the true meaning of this day.

233 years ago, a group of frustrated men met together. They were once proud citizens of a great nation whose influence spanned the globe who army was considered the greatest on earth. But little by little they saw the heritage they once took pride in, being taken away. Through the abuse of power and confiscation of liberty, they began to get fed up. Is anyone here beginning to get fed up?

Finally it got to the point where they were forced to declare that, “when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

I love America. Let me say that again, I love America! And because of love America, I hate what she has become. We have forsaken the principles our nation was founded upon, and we have shattered the dreams of our founding fathers. Our constitution has been torn in shreds. Who would have ever thought that one day in the USA…

Sound preaching from the Word of God would be considered a hate crime.

Patriots peacefully assembling together in meetings such as these would be considered domestic terrorism.

Supreme Court Nominees openly admit to legislating from the bench.

The President of the United States would be allowed to fire the head of a private corporation.

The Congress of the United States would be allowed to pass thousands of pages of intrusive, unconstitutional, and tyrannical pieces of legislation without even reading it!

Should this be the norm in the United States of America!

How many of you believe enough is enough! Say it with me, enough is enough!

Our civil liberties are being washed away in a sea hope and change. As one popular bumper sticker said, I’ll keep my liberty, you keep the change!

Today we celebrate the birth of our nation. We uphold the birth certificate of our nation – the declaration of Independence. President Obama may not have a birth certificate, but our nation does! And that document says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.”

(1) There is a Creator God. There is no need to hide my belief in the Almighty. In fact, when we do try to erase our Christian heritage, we erase our American heritage. When we stop acknowledging His presence in our nation’s success, when we cease to be one nation under God, as Congress once declared us to be, we will cease to be a nation blessed by God. The Scriptures declare in Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!”

(2) Rights are given by this creator God. These rights are unalienable. They cannot be taken away. And by whom are they given? Not by our federal government. Not by our President. Not by congress or any other politician. And let me add, if these rights were not theirs to give, it is not theirs to take away!

(3) The purpose of government is to secure these rights, not take them away. When government begins to take away the rights of the people to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, it is time to abolish said government.
Does anyone here believe that our government has not infringed the people’s right to life as we slaughter innocent, unborn children and leave our nation defenseless against terrorist attack?

Does here believe that our government has not infringed the people’s right to liberty as we will soon be told what car to drive, how much electricity we are allowed to use in our own homes, and our guns are taken away?

Does anyone here believe that our government has not infringed the people’s right to the pursuit of happiness as our government continues to grow in size, raise our taxes and legislate our speech!

Well then, according to our birth certificate, it is time for the people to remember that “it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

We need a new revolution in America! Not a revolution of violence and arms, but a revolution at the ballot box. It is time we sent the message, enough is enough! It is time to stay informed and keep our representatives accountable. Send them the message –we are watching you!

We must send the message that our vote must be earned. We’re not going to vote for you just because you offer meaningless catch phrases and vague generalities. We want the details. We will no longer vote for you simply because you are a democrat or simply because you are a republican. In fact, in my opinion, there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between the two anyway. In fact, we find ourselves in a vicious cycle that never ends. We don’t like the democrats so we throw them out and vote for the republicans. We see in a few years that the republicans disappoint us so we throw them out, and then vote back in the very democrats we threw out just a few years earlier. They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result each time! Its time to stop the insanity! Years ago, I left the Republican party and joined the Constitution Party. Why, I want to place principles above politics. I’m not voting for people who only claim to be conservative been then go on to vote for bigger government and further the erosion of our liberty. But you say, that’s must a protest vote. To quote a former Alaskan governor, “you betcha!” Its time we had more protest votes. Why, somebody needs to protest! Somebody needs to stand up and say something. History is made by those who show up and are courageous enough to do something a little out of the ordinary. Come next year, I’ll be voting for Rob Taylor of the Constitution Party of Wisconsin to oust Sitting Senator Herb Kohl. I don’t trust a Republican to do it.

But, I’m not here to convince you who to vote for. I am trying to convince you that whomever you vote for, send a message with that vote. But, don’t just wait till election day to make your voice be heard. Take this occasion where we celebrate our independence and send a letter or an e-mail to your elected representatives and tell them, your time is up! Be on guard, because I am paying attention now. Stay informed. An uninformed electorate is only a few years away from slavery.

Let freedom ring and Let’s work together to again to make America blessable by God!

Share this:

Like this:

I know I have mentioned this before, but I feel the need to vent once again. Carrie Prejean, now the former Miss California, is an embarrassment for evangelicals everywhere. Back a few months ago, Prejean made headlines because she made some pro-marriage statements during the Miss America beauty contest. She won second place, robbed of the top ranking some say because of these comments.

At once she became the darling of the social conservative evangelical community as she continued to be mocked by homosexual activists and progressives everywhere. She was booked on all the big conservative programs. Religious leaders called her a role model – someone not afraid to stand up for her faith.

But let us evaluate exactly what she said that evening. Here are her comments:

“We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised.”

This is not exactly a rousing endorsement of God’s plan for marriage. She is merely stating a personal opinion, not defending a Biblical belief. She bases her belief on marriage on how she was raised, which just happens to follow a Biblical model. Do you see the difference? Now, while this statement is not exactly a profession of faith, I am more than willing to admit it still took courage to say. However, this is more of a reflection of “family values” and conservative opinion as opposed to Biblical absolutes.

So, the statement itself was weak. Also keep in mind the venue in which she was saying it. She was competing in a beauty contest run by Donald Trump. She was strutting around half-naked being leered by judges only concerned with outward appearance. I’m not sure what kind of family values this portrays.

After the big event, we found out even more information about this so-called champion for family values – Ms. California had once posed for some topless photographs which quickly hit the internet. She defended herself by declaring that she was a Christian and a model, and sometimes models take these kinds of photos. Models may take these photographs, but should Christians?

Where was the Christian outrage? I could not find very much. In fact, many Christians I know still defended the woman. After all, she is against homosexual marriage… These pictures were just part of a conspiracy against Christians. Give me a break!

The latest news is that Miss Prejean has been fired even as Miss California for failing to live up to contractual agreements. She was not doing her job. To be honest, I do not know how legit these claims are, but the same Donald Trump who defended her during the picture fiasco is the same Donald Trump who now signed her pink slip. But, still Christians are convinced that this is part of a conspiracy. Hollywood liberals are out to destroy a godly Christian. Again, give me a break!

It always amazes me how simple minded some in my own circles can be. It seems like when anybody says anything that can be vaguely construed as religious, they are instantly heralded as the raising star we’ve been waiting for. Hurray, we’ve found somebody who is popular and mainstream! But, just as quickly as we build them up, they fall down. Of course, they have no where to go but down. We don’t bother to look for substance or depth, we just jump at the first site of what may appear as faith. Should we be surprised that such people so often disappoint us?

I think this has even seeped into the way we evangelize. I was at a meeting a few weeks ago that was described to me as evangelistic. Yet, as the speaker began to give the gospel, it sounded more like an “inspirational” message. He was describing how bad things were today. He spoke to those who dreamed of a better life. To those people, he boldly proclaimed that this man named Jesus wants to help them. He so desperately wants to rescue them from their situations and develop a meaningful relationship with them. How does one obtain such a relationship? We must first admit we are sinners. We all make mistakes in life, don’t we? Second, we must believe that Jesus wants to save us. Finally, we must call upon Jesus. Ask Him into your heart. He led asked all those interested in doing this to come forward and surround the pulpit, which several people then did. He led these people in a quick prayer, looked up and declared these folks to be saved.

My heart was crushed. In reality, salvation was just reduced to walking a few steps and closing your eyes at the right moment. This pastor, without ever meeting or talking with any of these people, declared them all to be saved! Why? Because they walked an isle and closed their eyes. Is this really Biblical salvation? Absolutely not. It is a shallow replacement. It is a gospel that is really not a gospel.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. – Galatians 1:6-10

The message I heard appealed to man’s aspirations and good intentions. The gospel appeals to sinners who realize their helpless condition. Men must realize they are not good people in need of a better relationship and a better situation in life, but sinners before a holy God. A Savior is only appealing to those who need saving. They must be made to understand this Savior is their only option. Pulling up ones self by their own bootstraps is not an option or even a possibility. What makes God’s love so great is recognizing that the object of that love is completely undeserving. This sounds awfully negative, but men must be made aware of the seriousness of their sin. This is what makes the Good news, just that.

The situation I described here can also be descriptive of thousands of church services each Sunday. Many people come, walk an isle, pray a prayer, sign a card, and then never be heard from again. Why? No real change has taken place. Why? No one ever took the time to describe the real gospel to them. If people were already good to start with and have now added Jesus to their lives, why would that have a need to do anything else? Nothing in their lives has changed. The gospel cannot be reduced to a mere decision or affirmation of stated fact. Yet, because of shallowness, laziness or so-called simplicity, many people will find themselves in hell after having been told they were on their way to Heaven. This is the tragic consequence of an incomplete, watered-down and ultimately false gospel.

Where the true gospel is preached, is will produce results. The results may not be thousands flooding to a pulpit during an invitation. But why does that matter if none of them ever step foot in a church again? What good are commitment-free professions of faith? Are we looking for quantity or quality?

Fellow Christians, it is time to grow up.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. – Ephesians 4:11-14

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. – Hebrews 5:11-14

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Let us not be content with mere platitudes about morality. Let us never again be satisfied with shallow preaching. Crave the Word of God! Cultivate a desire to delve into the depths of Scripture. Sound doctrine ought to be our life and breath. Why? It is through the depths of the teaching of God’s Word that we grow in our knowledge of Jesus Christ. Relationships are built on knowledge. The more we learn about Christ, the deeper the relationship we may have with Him.

Allow me to use my wife as an example. Since Christ compared His relationship with us to a marriage (Ephesians 5), I feel justified. When I first started getting to know the woman that would one day be my bride, we began our relationship with a simple understanding of each other. We started to find some common interests and favorite hobbies. I knew the basic details of the woman. Then, as things began to grow more serious, we started sharing more intimate details such as life goals, dreams and even insecurities. At each stage of our relationship, our level of knowledge about each other increased. Then we finally reached a level in our relationship when we both decided that we knew each other enough that love was blooming. We decided to express that love in marriage. Yet, looking back on that time, Jill and I both realize that in actuality, we knew very little about other that day, at least compared with what we know each other now. I’m sure in the future we’ll be saying the same things about this current moment in our relationship.

The same should be true, but on a much larger scale when it comes to our relationship with Christ. As our relationship grows as our knowledge of Christ grows. Doctrine is what tells us more and more about the One we love. Surface knowledge is easy and sometimes praised, but leaves a lover of Christ unsatisfied.

Now, apply this to evangelism. Instead of spreading a shallow gospel that can never satisfy, would it not be better to take our time and explain the full story? Allow the Holy Spirit to change a life through the Word of God in whatever time that takes as opposed to three or four step presentation that only takes a few minutes. Instead of pressuring for a decision, we allow the truth to take hold of one’s soul.

The point of this rambling blog piece is this – beware of mere simplicity. It will always leave us disappointed and the results may be tragic. Learn to discern. Use your mind and cultivate the gifts God has given you. Grow in your faith and work to develop a more mature and deeper relationship with Christ. Don’t be afraid or judgmental of Biblical doctrine or of those who teach – it is for your good and for God’s glory!

Like this:

URGENT PETITION! (Even if you’ve signed before, you can sign again & we’ll re-fax.) Please click, sign, and WE WILL FAX your petition automatically to ALL 100 U.S.
SENATORS right away (saving you hours of labor!) Please forward widely.

We’ve now sent over 575,000 faxes to the Senate. Can you help reach 1 Million?

Senate Committee QUIETLY Schedules THURSDAY Vote on Anti-Jesus Judge:My friend Mat Staver at Liberty Counsel just alerted me that secretly, quietly, and suddenly, (while everybody else is focused on the Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor, and they might think we’re not paying attention), the Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote TODAY, THURSDAY, 4 JUNE, about confirming Judge David Hamilton, the anti-Jesus Judge, the same judge who issued controversial rulings banning public prayers offered “in Jesus name,” and hastening the abortion of unborn children. If approved at this Thursday Committee vote, Hamilton will be forwarded to the full Senate, where he may soon be promoted to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, the same court that overruled his aggressive, activist, liberal decisions for years.
To confirm this, I personally just called the Senate Judiciary Committee staff, and personally spoke to a professional staffer who works for Senator Sessions (the ranking minority member), and he confirmed that YES, Judge David Hamilton’s confirmation is “ripe” for a vote, and if any Republican Senators dare show up at the Committee meeting, they will sadly forfeit their right to invoke Quorum rules (which could prevent a vote if all Republicans simply walked out), and so instead the committee WILL LIKELY VOTE UP OR DOWN TODAY whether to forward Hamilton to the entire Senate, where he still faces the threat of filibuster by our heroic friend Senator James Inhofe (R-OK).

ANTI-JESUS, BUT PRO-ALLAH?Thank God, we took action in 2007 and provided legal arguments to the Indiana Attorney General who appealed to the 7th Circuit Court and WE WON a 2-1 decision overruling Hamilton, restoring the right to pray “in Jesus name” in Indiana. But if Obama succeeds in promoting Hamilton to the same court that overruled him, that good reversal will be in jeopardy. Judge Hamilton is the worst of Obama’s 15 new liberal appeals court appointees. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals covers Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois. Since most cases never reach the Supreme Court, the federal appellate circuits often provide the last word on cases affecting life and liberty.

Judge Hamilton wrote: “The injunction orders the Speaker…that the prayers should not use Christ’s name or title or any other denominational appeal…If those offering prayers in the Indiana House of Representatives choose to use the Arabic ‘Allah’…the court sees little risk that the choice of language would advance a particular religion or disparage others.”

In other words, Judge Hamilton ruled the words “Jesus” or “Christ” are illegal words, prohibited for public speech, banned by the First Amendment, which somehow forbids freedom of religious expression, and makes Christian prayers ILLEGAL, but prayers to Allah are LEGAL in a public forum. (What crazy version of the First Amendment is he reading?)

We’re now the leading national voice against Hamilton, and we’re getting traction toward a successful Senate filibuster that can stop Hamilton’s confirmation, much to the horror of many liberal groups (including the National Abortion Rights Action League who is actively campaigning FOR Hamilton). But together, we can be a louder voice.

(Or please just donate to help us during the Supreme Court battle to replace Justice Souter, since we are a leading voice of opposition to activist judges.)

READ THE FACTS:

The Judicial Confirmation Network quickly opposed Hamilton’s nomination, stating that “President Obama’s first nominee to the federal appeals courts — specifically the appeals court based in Chicago — is an ultra-liberal named David Hamilton who is a former fundraiser for ACORN and former leader of the Indiana chapter of the ACLU. He was nominated to the district court bench by President Clinton even though he had no judicial experience and was rated as ‘not qualified’ by the American Bar Association.”

Now newly promoted Judiciary Committee ranking minority Member Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), agrees with pro-faith Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), that we should oppose and filibuster Hamilton’s nomination to the 7th Circuit. Thanks in part to our public pressure, the Republicans and Sessions have twice succeeded in delaying Hamilton’s committee votes, saying “This a complex area of the law, I’ll admit, but it’s time for the federal court to get their heads straight on proper separation of church and state issues.”

To support Senators Inhofe and Sessions, and stop Hamilton, we first need solidarity among any good conservatives or moderates seated on the 19-member Senate Judiciary Committee, especially recent defector Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), 202-224-4254, whom you might call to ask him to OPPOSE AND FILIBUSTER Judge David Hamilton, and keep his pledge to not become a “rubber stamp” for Obama. Then please also call both your own Senators at 202-225-3121.

In 2003, Judge Hamilton struck down part of an Indiana law on abortion. The reasonable law had required abortion clinics to simply give women information about alternatives to abortion in the presence of a physician or nurse, 18 hours before the procedure, until Hamilton ruled to hasten abortions. But thank God, the 7th Circuit Court also reversed Hamilton’s bad decision in that case.

If confirmed now Hamilton will sit on that 7th Circuit Court (the same court that frequently overruled him) with tyrannical power to rule the heartland of Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin with his anti-life, anti-liberty, anti-Christian agenda.

WE CAN WIN THIS BATTLE!

We’ll then need 40 strong Senate votes (including Sen. Ben Nelson, D-NE, both Arkansas Senators Pryor and Lincoln, D-AR, both Maine Senators Collins and Snowe, R-ME, and all Senators in either party from southern states), to inhibit the majority cloture vote, and help Sen. Inhofe prevent Hamilton from getting a final floor vote. And here’s how you can help us reach all 100 Senators: ANTI-LIFE BUT PRO-ABORTION?We’ve already sent 575,000+ faxes to the full Senate, and we’re getting results! On April 1st and again on April 29th, Senator Orrin Hatch led all Republicans to walk out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in protest against the Democrat “rush job” to confirm Judge Hamilton.Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, said he was troubled by Hamilton’s ruling against a sectarian prayer to open the Indiana House of Representatives. Even Senator Arlen Specter expressed concern. But will any Democrats oppose the anti-Jesus Hamilton?

But remember, 100 emails = 10 phone calls = 1 fax in political capital, since the Senate staffers must handle each paper and usually write a reply. So please join our automated fax-petition campaign first. Then please forward this email to your Indiana-Illinois-Wisconsin friends, and to all pastors in all 50 states, and select hereto download a church flyer that pastors can copy and distribute.

But first, take action right now! I pray you will not hesitate, but sign the petition and WE WILL FAX your petition right away, automatically to all 100 U.S. Senators.

(Or please just donate to help us prepare for the upcoming Supreme Court battle to replace Justice Souter, since we are a leading voice of opposition to activist judges.)

WE MUST TAKE ACTION TODAY. So please feel free to sign our fax-petition (even if you already signed it before), but then PLEASE MAKE 19 PHONE CALLS TODAY to each of the Judiciary Committee members here, asking to oppose and filibuster Judge David Hamilton, because he ruled it’s illegal to pray in Jesus name, but legal to pray to Allah:

Share this:

Like this:

Ever since the eary 1990’s, I have considered Newt Gingrich to be one of the most intelligent politicians on the planet. But in this alert from CNN, Newt simply is stating what should be obvious to all. Unfortunately, in our voyeuristic, reality TV society, a story about the President and his dog is considered hard news. Newt simply calls it like it is -stupid!

Share this:

Like this:

This from an e-mail sent out by Marv Munyon of Wisconsin Capitol Watch:

ISSUES OF INTEREST 4/8/09

Congress will receive an up-or-down vote on this resolution before April 17, which is the National Day of silence. Wanted you to be aware so your congressman or congresswoman could hear your thoughts on this resolution. Thank you,

Marvin Munyon, Founder & President

Each time this update is sent out, there are a number of email address that do not work because your email address has been changed, you no longer have email or a variety of other reasons. We seek to follow up on as many as possible of these non-working addresses. It would be of great help to us if you would notify us if your email address is going to change or you would like to be removed from receiving this email update. Please contact us. Also please note our mailing and email address so your records are current.

Whereas the National Day of Silence is a day in which students take a vow of silence to bring attention to the anti- lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender name-calling, bullying,… (Introduced in House)

(3) encourages each State, city, and local education authority to adopt laws and policies to prohibit name-calling, bullying, harassment, and discrimination against students, teachers, and other school staff regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, so that the Nation’s schools are institutions where all individuals are able to focus on learning.

HCON 92 IH

111th CONGRESS

1st SessionH. CON. RES. 92Supporting the goals and ideals of the National Day of Silence in bringing attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender name-calling, bullying, and harassment faced by individuals in schools.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONSupporting the goals and ideals of the National Day of Silence in bringing attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender name-calling, bullying, and harassment faced by individuals in schools.

Whereas the National Day of Silence is a day in which students take a vow of silence to bring attention to the anti- lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender name-calling, bullying, and harassment faced by individuals in schools;

Whereas the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network designates one day of every April as the National Day of Silence;

Whereas a record number of more than 18,000 students from more than 6,500 middle and high schools registered as participants in the 2008 National Day of Silence;

Whereas the 2008 National Day of Silence was held in memory of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old California student who was shot and killed in school in February 2008 by a classmate due to his sexual orientation and gender identity and expression;

Whereas the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s 2007 National School Climate Survey illustrates the pervasive harassment and victimization faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students by documenting their experiences within the preceding academic year;

Whereas more than 85 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students reported being verbally harassed by their peers at school because of their sexual orientation, and more than 66 percent because of their gender expression;

Whereas more than 40 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students reported being physically harassed by their peers at school because of their sexual orientation, and more than 30 percent because of their gender expression;

Whereas more than 20 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students reported being physically assaulted by their peers at school because of their sexual orientation, and nearly 15 percent because of their gender expression;

Whereas nearly 40 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students report that faculty and staff never intervene when homophobic remarks were made in their presence, and over 40 percent when remarks about gender expression were made;

Whereas more than 30 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students reported missing at least one entire school day in the preceding month because they felt unsafe;

Whereas lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students who experienced high levels of verbal harassment because of their sexual orientation or gender expression are more likely to report that they did not plan to attend college than lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students who experienced low levels of such harassment;

Whereas student academic performance is affected such that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students who experienced high levels of verbal harassment because of their sexual orientation or gender expression report a grade point average nearly a half grade lover than those of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students who experienced low levels of such harassment;

Whereas a growing number of States, cities, and local education authorities are adopting laws and policies to prohibit name-calling, bullying, harassment, and discrimination against students on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; and

Whereas every child should be guaranteed an education free from name-calling, bullying, harassment, and discrimination regardless of his or her sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress–

(1) supports the goals and ideals of the National Day of Silence;

(2) requests that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe the National Day of Silence with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities; and

Share this:

Like this:

(Quotations mentioned below are not exact, but to the best of my recollection.)

Why can’t we just call this the State of the Union Address? I understand the President has not been office very long, but it is a Constitutional requirement…

The President is late – is that really the first impression he wants to leave us with? Even more importantly, the dominant issue tonight is about the economy – the very issue we are told we have to act right now on because any DELAY could be costly!

I wonder how long these Congressman have been camping out on the House floor just to get a seat on the center aisle so they can be on TV.

Charles Krauthammer (columnist and Fox News analyst) is absolutely correct – one of the most remarkable aspects of tonight is the fact that an African-American is speaking as the President is now so common place that it is no longer remarkable.

Another formal occasion messed up by someone jumping the gun! – President Obama began his speech before Speaker Pelosi could formally introduce him.

“Regulations were gutted …” – Government regulations are the reason why our economy has clasped! Get the government out of this mess!

“I don’t believe in bigger government” – WHAT!!! Please explain how your stimulus package does not increase the size of government? Explain how nationalizing the banking system does not increase the size of government!

“Nobody messes with Joe.” Someone tell that to Sarah Palin.

“The flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy .” – I think this may be part of the problem. Isn’t it credit that leads to more debt? I’m probably alone on this one, though. But more importantly, why is it the job of the federal government to make sure I can get a loan?

How is the government going ensure more people can get loans or better mortgage rates without the government taking more control?

“The full force of the federal government…” – That’s a scary phrase…

“Significant government resources will be need, even more than what has already been allotted.” – Aren’t we already trillions of dollars in debt? What government resources are you talking about – there are none!

Why is it your job to solve the problem, Mr. President? What Constitutional authority do you really have to do this?

Nancy Pelosi has never looked happier.

We will have to sacrifice some spending – Thank you, Mr. President. Someone had to say it.

“I reject the idea that problems will just take care of themselves.” I agree. However, I don’t know anyone who is saying that problems will take care of themselves. Who is suggesting this?

“Three areas absolutely critical… energy, health care, and education.” Again, Mr. President, where in the Constitution is the federal government allowed to spend one dime on health care or education?

I don’t like the fact that Fox News is not showing who is standing and who is sitting during these standing ovations. I want to know which Republicans have the courage to “sit for their convictions.”

“The nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it.”

Why am I not seeing anyone sitting during these ovations!!!!

Wait, finally, I see some folks not afraid to sit. Thank you, Fox News camera man.

“Democrats and Republicans will be called to work together on health care.” Just once I would love to hear someone mention a third party. It would shock everyone. Maybe someday…

“…Expand the promise of education in America.” Here comes more big government!

“Education is important for those first few years of life.” Are these early years so important? Then why do you insist on killing children through abortion in their earliest year of life?

I think it is interesting to see Senator Joe Lieberman sitting with the Democrats, the very ones who voted him out in the primaries.

“Responsibility for a child’s education must begin at home.” – AMEN! Here is one area that the President and I agree on. Now, could we work together to recognize parental rights in education? How about the rights of parents to now if their children are cross state lines to receive an abortion?

“We must not leave our children with a debt they cannot pay.” – If only you really believed this…

“We passed a recovery plan that is free of earmarks.” WHAT??? Did the President not read this bill before he signed it? Thank you, Republicans, who were proud enough to actually boo at this statement.

Ok, Mr. President, please explain how you can keep claiming that 95% of tax payers will receive a tax cut when you refuse to renew the Bush tax cuts which means taxes will go back up to previous levels. That is an increase in what we are now paying in taxes, Mr. President, NOT a decrease!

“We haven’t agreed on every issue… and we will part ways in the future…” I would to have seen some applause here.

Again, I do have to admit, it is nice to see a President with excellent speaking abilities.